Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Kansas

University of Kansas geosciences graduates face a puzzling reality: they earn slightly above the national median ($41,626 versus $39,678), but actually trail most Kansas programs in the field. With just five geosciences programs statewide, KU graduates land near the bottom at the 40th percentile—notably behind Fort Hays State's $43,421. This matters because Kansas geology programs typically outperform the national market, and KU isn't capturing that advantage.

The financial picture itself looks solid. At $27,000 in debt versus first-year earnings of $41,626, graduates manage a 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio—comfortably below the rule-of-thumb threshold of 1.0. That's less debt than 89% of similar programs nationwide, which provides meaningful breathing room for young professionals entering a field where earnings often build with fieldwork experience.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, making any conclusions tentative. One or two outliers could swing these numbers significantly. For families comparing Kansas options, Fort Hays offers similar accessibility (95% admission rate) with measurably stronger outcomes in this specific field. KU may excel at graduate placement or provide unique research opportunities that first-year earnings don't capture, but the earnings data alone doesn't position this program as Kansas's strongest geosciences choice.